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Flyers will buy out Danny Briere

He tried to remain hopeful, knowing full well what might happen. Not once did Danny Briere admit on April 27 that a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators might have been his last game as a Flyer. Evidently, it was.

VOORHEES, N.J. - He tried to remain hopeful, knowing full well what might happen. Not once did Danny Briere admit on April 27 that a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators might have been his last game as a Flyer.

Evidently, it was.

"The last six years have been amazing," the 35-year-old center said.

After massive speculation, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed Thursday that he will use one of the team's two compliance buyouts on Briere. There is also speculation that the Flyers may use the other buyout on goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, although that rumor seems to be losing steam.

"I met with Danny last week and informed him of our decision to use a compliance buy out on his contract," Holmgren said in a statement. "This was a very difficult decision for us to make as Danny has been a very good player for us over the past six years. Danny came to our organization as a free agent in July of 2007 and has been a tremendous player, person and role model in all aspects and for that we thank him. We wish him continued success and best wishes in any future endeavors."

Briere has a cap hit of $6.5 million on his eight-year, $52 million contract, which has two more years on it. The Flyers will pay two-thirds of the $5 million actual money owed to Briere.

The compliance buyouts don't count against the salary cap, so Briere's $6.5 million cap hit will be alleviated from the Flyers' books once the buyout becomes official. The window to make those compliance buyouts begins 48 hours following the deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final.

"Yes, it's not an easy day," Briere said. "But at the same time, I've seen all the rumors and reality was that it was going to happen. Like I said, it's sad, but at the same time, hopefully it's new doors that open."

In his 364 regular-season games as a Flyer, Briere had 124 goals and 159 assists. He was a terrific playoff performer for the Flyers, scoring 37 goals and 35 assists in 68 games played.

Once the Flyers actually make the buyout, Briere will be an unrestricted free agent.

He hasn't narrowed his decision down yet, but his family will play a big role. When he came to the Flyers in 2007, Briere's family set up shop in Haddonfield, N.J., and they're not leaving.

"This is my home," Briere said. "Wherever I'm going to end up, the kids are staying here and I'm coming back here. Yeah, this is my home. This is what we consider home now."

His three boys, aged 12, 13 and 14, will all stay in school locally, despite whatever city Briere will temporarily call home next.

"They're already set up," Briere said. "They're at an age where it becomes tougher to move them around. They'll be staying back."

They'll also have a big say in where their dad plays. Briere would prefer to play for a Stanley Cup contender, but since free agents aren't allowed to talk to other teams yet he said he isn't sure how to gauge their interest in him.

"I'm gonna make sure they're OK wherever I'm gonna go," Briere said. "They're gonna have a say just as much as me and with the future that lies ahead."

As for the past, Briere said he'll remember Philadelphia fondly. He said the Flyers were even gracious in breaking the news to him that he won't be wearing orange and black next season.

"It wasn't an easy thing for them either ... meeting with me and having to break the news," Briere said. "But they did it with a lot of class and I'll always be grateful for that and also my time here as a Flyer."